Therapeutic Effect of Guggulsterone in Primary Cultured Orbital Fibroblasts Obtained From Patients with Graves' Orbitopathy.

Abstract

Purpose:

Inflammation, hyaluronan production, and adipogenesis are the main pathological events leading to Graves' orbitopathy (GO). Guggulsterone (GS), a phytosterol found in the resin of the guggul plant, is a well-known treatment for several inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis, obesity, and hyperlipidemia. Here we investigated the effects of GS treatment on GO pathology.

Methods:

Using primary cultures of orbital fibroblasts from GO patients and non-GO controls, we examined the effects of GS on hyaluronan production and the production of proinflammatory cytokines induced by interleukin (IL)-1β, using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, western blots, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Further, adipogenic differentiation was evaluated by quantification of Oil Red O staining and assessment of protein levels of peroxisome proliferator activator gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) α and β, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1).

Results:

Treatment with noncytotoxic concentrations of GS resulted in the dose-dependent inhibition of IL-1β-induced inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and COX-2, at both mRNA and protein levels. The hyaluronan level was also significantly suppressed by GS. Moreover, GS significantly decreased the formation of lipid droplets and expression of PPARγ, C/EBP α/β, and SREBP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. GS pretreatment attenuated the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B induced by IL-1β.

Conclusions:

Our data show significant inhibitory effects of GS on inflammation, production of hyaluronan, and adipogenesis in orbital fibroblasts. To our knowledge, this is the first in vitro preclinical evidence of the therapeutic effect of GS in GO.

• Authors: Bo Ram Kim, Jinjoo Kim, Jong Eun Lee, Eun Jig Lee, Jin Sook Yoon
• Journal: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci) Vol. 61 Issue 3 Pg. 39 (03 09 2020) ISSN: 1552-5783 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32196098 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha
• CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta
• Cytokines
• PPAR gamma
• PPARG protein, human
• Pregnenediones
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• SREBF1 protein, human
• Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
• Hyaluronic Acid
• pregna-4,17-diene-3,16-dione

Topics

• Adipogenesis (drug effects)
• Adult
• Aged
• Blotting, Western
• CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha (metabolism)
• CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta (metabolism)
• Cell Differentiation
• Cells, Cultured
• Commiphora (chemistry)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Fibroblasts (drug effects, metabolism)
• Graves Ophthalmopathy (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Humans
• Hyaluronic Acid (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Orbit (drug effects, metabolism)
• PPAR gamma (metabolism)
• Pregnenediones (therapeutic use)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 (metabolism)
• Young Adult